My Activities section of my profile on Facebook says:
Work,
Volunteering for this that and the other,
running away from boxes!
Water,
finding good curry goat, beef and chicken,
jogging —>I’m here<— serious distance running
I last updated that least about 2 months ago. Now, I can objectively say that none of those apply anymore. Lets take them apart one by one and look.
Work - Going back to school and in the process of leaving my job. Volunteering… - When’s the last time I did this? I’d actually think about it but then I fear my minds processor would hang up. I wonder if I can still find my membership card for the ‘all talk, no action’ section of the stands? running away from boxes – Based on my career path and all that it brings, can I reasonably say I’m still the active box sighter I used to be? You could argue ‘yes’ still but the conviction of it all is a changed thing. water – when last? streeeeups. *sigh* Finding Good curry… – What can I say? I’ve gone (partially) vegetarian. I now have my sights set on going cold turkey on meat. (Come on niggas… that play on words was just an in-yo-face, slam-dunking pot of goodness. LOL) Joggin… - My damn recurring ankle injury has put the final nail in that coffin of this. And to think I was really getting into this too.
What’s happening here? Life. I guess. I mean, this is what it is about right, “Rolling with the punches”?
So much for consistency.
This moment of mini-reflection has just brought back home to me how important/sudden/cool/frightening/unexpected/warming change can be. Either way, whether u want it to or not, its gonna happen anyhow.
I guess I can just embrace the change or offer it some of my half ripe Bananas or… something. Sorry, I used up all my quasi-wit on that cold-turkey-meat bit.
Theres no common denominator among these songs. Just those songs that I’ve been listening to and/or I’ve been paying the most attention to.
Junior Murvin – Police and Thief.
timeless (sadly) ode to Jamaica’s reality. If it was merely relevant back in the mid 70’s when he spit it (over a Scratch Perry beat none the less. backa backa!), its message is tattooed across our conscious mind’s today. Also check out the man jeans suit star. Mad tings.
John Mayer – Free Falling (live).
John Mayer is my most favouritest artist in the world (right now) so I suspect part of me liking this new joint from him is at least partially due to me being a sheep and not primarily because its any good. Ojectively speaking though, a bad JM song is better than anything not by John that you could find on ytube/tv/radio anyhow.
Nas – Hero.
I’m a sucker for exceptional productions. Polow Da Don absolutely wreaks havoc with this. That kick drum star. It bad.
Oh yeah, Nas is the artist on top of the beat. I almost forgot to mention.
Easy All Stars (feat Frankie Paul) – Us and Them
For me, Easy All Stars, took something seminal (Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ album)and made it untouchable. This track in particular is a really good example of what the album (coyly titled ‘DUB side of the Moon’) has in store. Frankie Paul has an oh so unique croon to him that just pours itself out over the dub styling of the All-Stars like syrup and pancakes (barf if u must, its how I feel dammit… lol). This track forced its way unto my list of all-time favourite songs based on Frankie Pauls stylings alone.
The Tamlins – Baltimore
So you want a lesson in taking a song out of its cultural and historical context, far and away from its intended audience and STILL manage to completely pwn it? Why we have exactly the thing right here! As if the name didn’t give it away already, Baltimore was a track made popular by Nina Simone (originally by Randy Newman) in the late 70’s that spoke to the muted, unappealing reality that was the North American city.
The skater (Honda 50 bike) is an icon of the times.
While I wasn’t born until the mid-80’s, I love finding and poring over imagery from mid 60’s through to early 80’s Jamaica. Its no wonder that this is the period from which two of the films I love the most – Rockers and Harder they Come – as well as some of my favourite music and musicians emerged. A big part of my fascination with those decades has to do with the aesthetic appeal of the time. The rudie look just emoted so much.
Fearless.
Carefree,
Deadly.
Look at me
From the Guardian:
“Writer and photographer Beth Lesser travelled in Jamaica throughout the Eighties with her husband, interviewing musicians for her magazine. Along the way she captured the scene at the time, exploring the period between the death of Marley and ragga’s conquest of America”
It’s, not, how you start, it’s how you finish,
And it’s, not, where you’re from, it’s where you’re at,
Everybody gets knocked down,
Everybody gets knocked down,
How quick are you gonna’ get up?
How quick are you gonna’ get up?
Everybody gets knocked down,
Everybody gets knocked down,
How quick are you gonna’ get up?
Just how are you gonna’ get up?
Like Ali in the jungle,
Like Nelson in jail,
Like Simpson on the mountain,
With odds like that, they were bound to fail
Like Hannah in the darkness,
Like Adam’s in the dark,
Like Ludwig Van, how I loved that man, well the guy went deaf and didn’t give a fuck, no…
No, no, no
It’s, not, where you are, It’s where you’re going,
Where are you going?
And it’s, not, about the things you’ve done, it’s what you’re doing, now,
What are you doing, now?
Everybody gets knocked down,
Everybody gets knocked down,
How quick are you gonna’ get up?
How quick are you gonna’ get up, now?
Everybody gets knocked down,
Everybody gets knocked down,
How quick are you gonna’ get up?
Just how are you gonna’ get up?
Like Ali in the jungle,
Like Nelson in jail,
Like Simpson on the mountain,
Well with odds like that, they were bound to fail
Like Hannah in the darkness,
Like Adam’s in the dark,
Like Ludwig Van, how I loved that man, well the guy went deaf and didn’t give a fuck, no…
Oooh, ooh, ooh
No, no, no
Oooh, ooh, ooh
No, no, no
Oooh, ooh, ooh
It’s the greatest comeback since Lazarus,
The greatest comeback since Lazarus,
It’s the greatest comeback since Lazarus,
The greatest comeback since Lazarus,
It’s the greatest comeback since Lazarus,
The greatest comeback since Lazarus,
The greatest comeback since Lazarus,
The greatest comeback…
It’s the greatest comeback…
recent tracks